Paulding County’s unemployment rate increased in October after dropping to its lowest level in five years, the Georgia Department of Labor reported.

The rate increased from 6.8 percent in September to 7.0 percent in October as the number of employed Paulding Countians decreased and the number unemployed increased, according to numbers in a recent monthly labor department report.

The number of employed Paulding County residents decreased by 624 — from 67,909 in September to 67,285 in October. The number of unemployed residents grew by 121 — from 4,924 to 5,045.

Initial claims for jobless benefits were up 14 in Paulding County over the month. There were 337 initial claims filed in September and 351 claims filed in October, said Corey Smith, a labor analyst with the Georgia Department of Labor.

“Industries including retail trade, wholesale trade, and information services endured an increase of initial filings for jobless benefits in October while accommodation and food services and finance and insurance saw an over-the-month decrease in claims,” Smith said.

Paulding’s October 2013 rate, however, matched Cobb County, which typically has the lowest monthly rate among neighboring counties.

Jobless rates in neighboring counties included 7.0 percent in Cobb; 7.6 percent in Bartow; 7.7 percent in Polk; 8.0 percent in Haralson; and 8.1 percent in Carroll and Douglas.

In October 2012 the unemployment rate in Paulding County was 8.2 percent and 502 initial claims for unemployment benefits were filed, Smith said.

October’s numbers followed a September report which showed the lowest unemployment since fall 2008 in Paulding, he said.

“The 6.8 percent unemployment rate in September 2013 is the lowest in the county since the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in September 2008,” Smith said.

Because of the federal government shutdown, no states were allowed to publish local labor market data for September, the department noted in a press release.

Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate increased to 7.7 percent in October, up from 7.4 percent in September. It is the average rate for 28 counties surrounding the city of Atlanta.

The rate rose in October primarily for two reasons – an increase in new layoffs and an increase in the number of unemployed residents.

New layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, increased to 19,420, up by 16.2 percent from 16,717 in September. Claims were filed in several sectors, led by administrative and support services, 901; professional and technical services, 644; and trade, transportation and warehousing, 312. There were 22,477 claims in October 2012.

The number of unemployed people in Metro Atlanta increased to 210,017, up by 7,741 from 202,276 in September. There were 233,501 unemployed in October 2012.

While the jobless rate was up, metro Atlanta employers continued to add jobs in October. There were 2,434,400 jobs, up by 15,300, or 0.6 percent, from 2,419,100 in September. Most of the new jobs were added in trade and transportation, 4.300; education and health care, 2,700; government, 1,800; manufacturing, 1,700; professional and business services, 1,300; leisure and hospitality, 1,200; and financial services, 1,100.

Georgia’s unemployment rate for October was 8.0 percent, up from 7.7 percent in September. The rate was 8.7 percent in October a year ago.

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